Automobile signal



Jan, 20,

C; H. HALL AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed May 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inverzior: WZZHQZJ,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm 6 a "w "W 7 9! a n I 2 J 6 M I 43 I W J Jan, 20. 1925;

c, H. HALL AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL Filed May 4, 1923' il atenteril data. 2 59? l-gzgi tt ittltt AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE H. HALL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of tirlenville, in the county of Freeborn and State of Minnesota, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals, of which the following is a complete specification.

The invention contemplates an indicating mechanism which includes two indicating elements, provided with illuminating means, and constructed to be arranged on the opposite side of a vehicle and to be operated and illuminated simultaneously when desired.

More specifically, the invention includes two signalling arms or semaphores supported for a dual movement, the mechanism for producing such movement comprising a pair of vertical rotating supporting mem-.

bers, a horizontal shaft operably connected to the supporting members, a stop member and means for moving the horizontal shaft and locking same with relation to the stop member.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Fig. 1 is .a front elevation showing the device in position, parts being broken away in section;

Fig. 2 is a similar enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of. the signal casings;

Fig. 4. is a diagrammatic view of the wiring for the lights;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the back plate, and

Fig. 7 is .a transverse sectional view through the transverse guide pin and easing.

In the drawings reference character 1 indicates the signal or semaphore elements constructed to represent the human hand and of transparent material for the purpose of illumination as will more clearly hereinafter appear. These signaling elements 1 are arranged for oscillatory movement both on a vertical and horizontal axis and the mechanism for producing these movements is partially enclosed. in casings which include the spherical body portions 2 and the the center of the casings 2.

Application filed May 4, 1923. Serial. No. 636,719.

tubular extensions 3. This mechanism includes the vertical. rotary supporting shafts a and the horizontal shaft 6. The upper ends of the vertical shafts 4t extend without the casings 2 and carry the signaling elements 1 and the lower ends terminate in rounded bearing portions which are fixed for rotation by means of the block bearing members 8. Gears 10 are keyed to the vertical shafts 4- at points approximately By referring to Figure 8 the arrangement of these gears will be seen. Due to the necessity of having the horizontal shaft 6 extend through the horizontal axis of the casings to obtain proper rotary motion of the latter, the vertical shafts are spaced from such axis so that the gears fixed thereon are properly spaced to mesh with the racks hereinafter mentioned. Fixedly mounted to the opposite sides of the vehicle body are support ingblocks 14L, having bearings 15 said bear ings constitutinga means for preventing longitudinal movement of the member 3 with respect to the member 14 while permitting relative rotary movement between these elements. Shafts 6 are provided with key holes for the reception of key pins 31. At points diametrically opposite the key holes in the shaft 6, the casing 3 is provided with longitudinal grooves 82 for the reception of the key pins 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Rotation of the shaft 6 causes a consequent rotation of the casing 3, due to the shaft 6 being keyed to the casing 3 by the pins 31.

The operating mechanism includes a fixed casing which may be bolted in posit-ion between the lower edge of the wind shield and the instrument board. This casing comprises the slotted front plate 18 and the curved back plate 19, the latter enclosing an enlarged central portion 12 of the horizontal reciprocating shaft 6 and is provided with a series of spaced perforations 21. These perforations are located below the horizontal longitudinal axis of the reciprocating shaft 6 and are equally spaced, the central. perforation being provided with the insulated bushing 21. An insulated packing 20 is also arranged between the back plate 19 and the horizontal shaft 12, and insulation 21 spaces the adjacent faces of the front and back plates.

Intermediate the enlarged central portion 12 of the shaft 6 there is formed a transverse opening forthe' reception of the bushing' 23 inwardly flanged at 24 and 21 to form a casing for the reception of the spring 25 carried on the operating plunger shaft 26.

This plunger 26 comprises the shank and.

the head 27, the shank being elongated and of suitable diameter to permit engagement in the perforations 21 in the back plate The spring is of the coiled type and en gages the upper flange 24k and the lower end thereof engages the fixed washer plate or collar 29. By this construction and arrangement, the tension of the spring causes the plunger to normally engage and seat in the selected perforation to hold the horizontal shaft 6 in'adjusted posit-ion.

Referring again to the front plate of the casing attention is directed to the enlarged central portion of the slot at 30 and the arrangement of the letters B-L-A-RB at the top thereof for indicating the position of the signal with. relation to the operating plunger. The casings 2 in addition to being fixed to the signals by virtue ofthe vertical supports (Jr. are secured to the reciprocating shaft 6 by means of the pins 31' located adjacent the bearing plates 15 and extending through the shaft 6 to terminate in the longitudinal grooves 32 formed in the casings, (see Fig. 7). ()bviously, longitudinal movement of these pins caused bythe movement of the shaft 6 will be permitted by these grooves 31; however, it will be noted that a rotary or oscillatory movement of the shaft will result in a similar movement of the casin 2 and consequently the signals.

The signal. members are, as previously stated, constructed to represent the human hand and have printedon their upper face 33 the word Stop or a corresponding warning so that when rotated on their horizontal aizis these words will be properly exposed. It will be noticeable also that due to the shape of the slot in the front plate rotary movement of the horizontal shaft is impossible except when the signal lamps are int-heir normal or neutral position. To permit the signals to be locked in their Stop. position, the back plate 20 is provided with the perforation or aperture 34;, which is. located above the central insulated perforation so that when the operating plunger 7 is moved downwardly, at the pointof the centrally enlarged portion 30 of the slot to ca use the partial rotary movement "ofthc shaft 12 and corresponding movement of thesignals the perforation 34 will b in position to permit engagement of the plunger-26 to lock the shaft 6.

. lVithin the signal members are suitable electric lamps 35 so that proper illumination may be had at night, and by the present arrangement this illumination is automatic by operation of the plunger. To be more specific, the lamps 35 in the signal members are connected to the battery 36 by wires 37, (see diagrammatic sketch of wiring in Fig. i) which are enclosed where permissible by the casings, and rroperly coiled about the vertical supports to permit the movement of the latter in the manipulation of the mechanism. Included in the lamp circuit is the in sulated back plate 20 having the insulated perforation. Also, as usuah the battery is grounded as at 38 to the frame of the car. The closing of the circuit; through this wiring, is brought about by making contact between the grounded fram or other metallic portion of the vehicle. in the present in stance. the l'iorizontal shaft 12 and the insulated back plate 20. This connection is obviously made by means of the plunger 26 in its engagement in the perforation in the back plate, except upon engagement in the insulated perforation. Upon engagement with this insulated perforation. the signals are in their neutral position and it is there fore not desired to illuminate the lamps.

v To operate the two signals to indicate the direction which a vehicle is to be steered. the plunger 26 is pulled against the tension of the spring to cause its disengagement with the neutral insulated perforation. and by proper movement th horizontal shaft is moved either to the right or left the case. may demand, the directions as previously stated being marked on the front plate. lVhen the signals have been brought to the desired position, the plunger is released and the spring will cause the same to engage the registering perforation. After the vehicle has mad the desired turm the plunger is again moved to assume the normal or neutral position. From the neutral position. and presuming that it is desired to bring the vehicle to a stop. the plunger is withdrawn and, the shaft 12 is partially rotated by the downward movement of th plunger into the enlarged notched portion 30. This partial rotary movement of the shaft will, by virtue of the pins 31., cause a'similar movement of the signalsand bring the face of the signals marked Stop into exposed position.

To prevent the illumination of the lamps during the manipulation of the signals in the daylight. a switch 40 is provided. In

the daytime this switch is kept in open position.

What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:-

1. A: device of the class described including a pair of signalling members. means for weaves plunger movable transversely with relation to said shaft and adapted to engage means on said fixed latch member to lock the parts in adjusted position.

2. A device of the character described, including a pair of signalling members, vertical supporting means for said signalling members, a horizontal shaft connecting said vertical support, a fixed casing inclosing a portion of said shaft, insulating material for spacing the casing from said shaft, and means for adjusting said shaft with relation to said casing and locking same in said adjusted position.

3. In a device of the class described, including a pair of signalling members, lamps carried by said signalling members, support ing means for said signalling members, a shaft connecting said supporting members provided with a transverse passage, a casing including a front and back plate partially enclosing said shaft, said front plate being formed with a longitudinal slot and said back plate being provided with a series of spaced perforations, a plunger extending through said transverse passage and being adapted to engage the perforations in said back plate, and a spring for normally holding said plunger in engagement with the perforations.

i. In a. device of the class described, including a pair of signalling members, lamps carried by said signalling members for illuminating same, a shaft connecting said supporting members and provided with a transverse passage, a casing including a front and back plate partially enclosing said shaft, said front plate being formed with a longitudinal slot and said back plate being provided with a series of spaced perforations, the walls of one of said perforations being lined with insulating material spacing said casing from shaft, a flanged bushing fixed in said transverse passage, a plunger extending through said bushing and normally engaging said erforations, a spring arranged on said plunger and engaging said flange, a stop collar on said plunger for said spring, and means caused by the movement of said plunger to illuminate said lamps.

5. A signalling apparatus including a pair of signalling members, lamps carried thereby, supports for said signalling members, an operating shaft connecting said supports, a supporting member for said operating shaft insulated therefrom, an electric circuit connecting said lamp to said shaft and to said spaced insulated supportin member, and an operating plunger carried said shaft for operating the latter and being adapted to be moved to close the circuit between said shaft and plate to illuminate said lamps.

6. A. device of the class described, including a pair of signalling members, means for causing oscillation of said signalling members on both their horizontal and vertical axes comprising a shaft, bearings for said shaft to permit rotation and longitudinal movement thereof, a fixed latch member partially enclosing said shaft and insulated therefrom, and an operating plunger movable transversely With relation to said shaft and adapted to engage means on said latch member to lock the parts in adjusted position at the completed circuit.

CLAUDE H. HALL. 

